Hall says it's "surreal" to switch teams; Tyrell "excited" to be back

Lightning center Dana Tyrell got to cross paths with Adam Hall in the hallway before Saturday's game against Carolina, it still sinking in they are no longer teammates.

Hall, 32, a Lightning center for four seasons, had been claimed off waivers by the Hurricanes Saturday afternoon, and would settle into the visitor's lockerroom before facing his former team at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Tyrell, 23, was recalled from AHL Syracuse to take the spot of his long-time linemate.

"It's weird," Tyrell said.

Hall said there were a lot of thoughts that went into his mind when he found out, considering all the text messages he received from friends and family. But Hall said he had a lot of respect for the Lightning, understanding move as part of the "business side of the game."

"Being with an organization for a long time, having such a quick change to the opposite side, down the hallway, different lockeroom, different colors, it's a little bit surreal," Hall said. "But it's also exciting."

As much as the Lightning liked Hall, they were going in a different direction of playing their younger players, like Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat. As a result, Hall was often a healthy scratch, appearing in just three games this month.

“ Adam has been great for us, had a terrific attitude, a good faceoff guy, a guy that’s given us honest work every single day," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "It’s sad to see one of those guys having to deal with that, and losing that. But at the same time there is a bigger plan."

Tyrell was excited to be back, having spent the past 15 games in Syracuse after starting the season with Tampa Bay.

"Obviously, this is where I want to be," he said. "I went down to Syracuse, had a good time, got a lot of playing minutes. But I'm glad I'm back."

Tyrell said the minutes he was able to play in Syracuse helped his confidence, in terms of carrying the puck instead of chipping it in, something he hopes will "carry over up here."

Hall appreciated the opportunity with the first-place Hurricanes, though admitted it'll be different to face such familiar faces.

"You have a ton of different thoughts during the day leading up to the game, but I think it's one of those where it's going to be fun and challenging experience to play against those guys that I have played alongside for so long."